Traveling side delivery rake



May 3U, I950 Filed March 19, 1947 A. D. GUY

TRAVELING SIDE DELIVERY RAKE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor A/fwed De an Guy 3Q, 1950 3, uy

TRAVELING SIDE DELIVERY RAKE 3 Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed March 19, 1947 Wm kw 3nneutor Alfred Dean Guy attorney 5 Filed March 19, 1947 A. D. GUY

TRAVELING SIDE DELIVERY RAKE I! ll wwrwfllm lw I I I f I i l l l l lllll A/fieo Dean Guy 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 30, 1950- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAVELING SIDE DELIVERY RAKE Alfred Dean Guy, 'Homewood, Kans.

Application March 19, 1947, Serial No. 735,738

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a traveling rake and baler and more particularly to improvements in apparatus for baling hay, straw, and other like material, and has for its principal object to provide an apparatus for moving through a field, raking hay, straw, and other like loose or mowed material, picking up the raked material, forming same into a bale and delivering tied bales along the path of travel.

There are some balers that may be towed by a tractor through a field for picking up hay and the like and baling same. In using such equipment, it is necessary to draw a mower through the field to mow the growing crop, then rake the field to arrange the crop in windrows or piles. After the field has been raked, a baler having a pickup device thereon is moved through the field along a windrow to pick up the crop and feed same to a press for packing, tying and delivering the bale of hay and the like. The present invention is designed to eliminate some of the travel through the field.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a pickup baler with a rake in angular relation to the direction of travel of the baler and flexibly connected thereto for conforming to the con our of the surface over which it is operated; to provide a three-point suspension for a rake having means for maintaining angularity between the rake and baler; to provide for driving the moving members of a rake from the baler to which said rake is attached; toprovide a fully automatic, one man operated apparatus for raking, picking up and baling hay and the like; to

provide a relatively light weight, compact, flexible, tractor drawn, wide swath structure for raking, picking up and baling hay and like mown crops in the field; to provide for adjusting clearance between the rake and the surface over which it is operated; to provide for maintaining the rake fingers in a substantially vertical position as they are rotated about a rake reel axis; to provide wheel supports for the rake and baler whereby the apparatus may be drawn around an arcuate path; and to provide an apparatus of the character described of relatively simple and flexible structure, capable of operation over variations in contour of surface, moved in astraight or arcuate path, raking, and picking up a wide swath of mown crops in the field and baling same, said apparatus being durable, sturdy, capable of long, efiicient service and providing a one man operation for raking, picking up and baling hay and the like.

In accomplishing these and other objects ofthe present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of a rake and baler apparatus embodying the features of the present invention, illustrating the arrangement of the respective parts thereof as they are being drawn by a tractor.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation on the pickup .side of the rake and baler apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the rake mechanism illustrating the drive therefor.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the rake on the line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view through the mounting of one of the caster wheels for the rake mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the mounting of the resilient rake fingers. V

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the rake on the line 'l--!, Fig. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a raking and baling apparatus embodying the features of the present invention provided with a drawbar '2 connected to the usual draft gear 3 of a tractor 4, by which the baler and rake are drawn through the field, the front end of the baler being supported in suitable manner as it travels over the ground. In the illustrated structure, the baler portion 5 of the apparatus is carried by wheels 6 and T supporting a frame generally designated 8, on which is mounted conventional packing and baling apparatus. The baling case or chamber 9 is shown at right angles to the direction of travel but may be arranged on the frame in any suitable manner. A pickup unit in is pivotally attached to the baler frame and is raised and lowered to meet field conditions and for transportation to and from the field, power being provided for operating said pickup unit by a suitable mechanism (not shown) connected with the wheels 6 and I of the apparatus. The baler is preferably equipped with its own prime mover, but may be conveniently operated by motive power ofthe tractor by means of a suitable power takeoff for operating said baling apparatus and, if desired, may also drive the pickup.

The pickup device I0 extends forwardly of the main frame of the baler, having a pair of girders I l extending forwardly in spaced relation to support a conveyor belt 12 and operating parts therebetween. The forward end of the girders carries a drum l3, having a plurality of sets of pickup fingers l4 arrangedthereon whereby the fingers ali nment with'the rear corner formed by the members -2 !-and 25. the bearing will engage the material on the ground and move same upwardly and rearwardly and deliver said material to the forward end of the belt, suitable driving mechanism for the pickup apparatus being enclosed in the housing I5 to provide rearward movement of the material to the baler case or chamber where the material is severed from the flowing stream by means of a conventional severing device "and packed into a bale. The girders are "so arranged relative to'the drawhar that the pickup device is preferably located between the main frame of the baler and the rear wheels of the tractor, the side of the .pickup .toward the center line of the tractorbein'glocated behind. the rear wheel l6 thereof and extending laterally thereof a suitable width for handling a conventional windrow.

The rake portion ll of the apparatus is located on the same side of the tractor as the pickup device and preferably .arrangedin angular-relation to :the direction of travel of theapparatus, the delivery side of said rake being sopositioned relative to the picku that all of the hay or like material will. "be delivered front of said :pickup whereby substantially nomaterial will beleftin the field in the swath being raked and picked up by the apparatus. The rake consists of .a irectangular frame l3, prefera ly formedof angles 19 :or other suitable structural shapes, and is adjustably supported in spaced relation .to the ground hymeans of. wheels to, .2 l and. 2.2..preferably arranged in'sna ced relation-totheframe 1'8 by-meanssuitablebracing now to be. described.

The frame It consists-of longitudinalmembers Qtconnectedat their ends by transverse members and-26. Secured to the longitudinal member 23 and projecting forwardly and downwardly therefrom are arms Hand-2s converging at their outer ends tocarrva v sally arranged bearinq housing 29, the hearing housing and arms preferably being so-located as to be-substantially alongside of the adjacent'tractor wheel vSand operating in a path spaced slightly toward the tractor fromtheco ner .30 of the frame'lfiforrn'ed hy'rhem'bers 2-3 ndr-fi. The 21-andi2B pref- .erahly'are formed of tubular members l are connected adiacent the lower endof .the bearing housir '29, the'unper end of said bearing housg'cennected to a tubular memberfil ex- -rearwardl-v therefrom andat right angles tot member-23 of the frame l8. The=member ends over the too of the-frame and. suit- --thereto. the rear'endof saidmem- ,connected to the up er end of .a

ab y secure *he'r bei.

hearing-housin for mounting the wheel -.22,

wheel referablt] being substantially in softhe frame housing :32 beingfurther-braced'with the frame by means of an M having connection with the-ang e 2.4,thelowerend of thehearing housin s'i-heingsupported by a-brace BS-connected :to bearing heus ngend .to theoarrn 34 in spaced relation to said housing.

itubu ar member as connects ith the u p r end of .thehearin housings! and extends for- -th'e ers fiandMy-the lower end of the iarm's eing connectedrwiththe frame If; by ad iToifurther add strength to'the structure a truss member 4| is provided over the .rotatable in the respective housing and terminate short of the upper end 41 thereof to provide space for athru'st bearing 48 between the end of the shaftand-aa collar 49 mounted on a shank 50 provided with external threads 5| adapted to be screwedinto'a threaded opening 52 in the upper end-ofwsaid bearing housings, the upper end of the shank 50 being bent laterally to provide a handle 53 for rotating "the shank to adjust the relative position of the spindles 46 and wheels relativelto the bearing housings and'thereby adjust the'height of the rake .frame'from the ground.

This structure provides athree point support for the rake structure, the support being on three caster wheels to facilitate thepassage of therake over the .contourof the surface. The rake frame is'secured tothe baler to support said'frame and maintain the angularity between'therakeand the path of travel-of the-apparatus. The corner 30 of the frame [8 is preferably provided with ears 54; pivotally'mounting one end of a tie bar55, the otheren'd. of which is 'pivotally connected to ears 56,.on"the:drawbar of the baler. The rake and baler. are furtherconnected by a tie bar 5'l'having one;end:pivotally connected'with'ears 58 on the member 24 of;the rakeframe adjacent the conmotion: of the arms 34 therewith, the tie bar "51 preferablyhaving its other end pivotally connectedito'the'axisill of the balerwheel 5, as at 60. 'Also'pivota'lly connected to'the axle 59'is a tie bar 6| having its other end pivotally connected to :aplate member 62 mounted on the bearing housing 32 in'such a manner that it substantially forms *a continuation of the member 36. The frame I8,together with'the bracing for carrying the wheels 20, 2| and 22, and the tie bar connection between the rake frame and the baler; maintains the angularity-between-the rake and thepath of travel'of the'baler. The threepoint mounting of the rake, together with the pivotal connection between the tiebars 55, '51 and 6|,between the baler and the "rake frame, permits-the wheels 20, 2| and 22 to pass over uneven ground and maintain contact therewith withoutcreating additional stress on the baler or tractor. In other wordsthere is a floating connection permitting tilting and raisin and'lowering "of the 'rakeframe relative to the baler withoutchanging the angularity of the rake therewith.

Extending downwardly "and centrally located relativeto the members 25 and 26 are spaced posts 63 and) carrying bearing members 65 for supporting ashaft "Efiformounting a reel 61. The reel consists of "spiders 68 and 69 adjacent the hearing members 65 at each end of the shaft 66, .the spiders consisting of ,a hub H rigidly secured to the shaft 66 and having oppositely disposed arms -..12, the ends of the arms having bosses 13 bored to vrotatably,..mountshafts I4. There are preferablv'fourarms on ,each spider and a shaft 14 carried at "the outer ends of-each arm, said shafts -I4 .extending substantially the fulllength of the rake. Each of the shafts14is provided with by a chain 85.

a plurality of spring fingers I5 particularly illustrated in Fig. 6. The fingers are constructed in pairs and provided with a bar portion I6 secured by a clip 11 which is clamped by means of a bolt or the like I8 extending through the shaft I4. The ends of the spring fingers at each end of the bar I6 are bent downwardly and provided with a plurality of coils I9 terminating in down- Wardly extending fingers, the lower end of the fingers being bent forwardly as at 89. Pairs of fingers are mounted on the shafts I I and spaced therealong to provide downwardly extending fingers substantially throughout the length of the rake. In order to maintain the fingers I5 in a substantially vertical position the outer ends of the shafts I4 are provided with sprockets 8| hav-- ing a chain 82 extending around all of the sprockets 0n the reel to operatively connect same. One of the shafts I4 is also provided with an additional sprocket 83 in alignment with a sprocket B4 on the shaft 66 and operatively connected therewith The sprocket 84 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 66 and is provided with a flange 85 having an arm 81 extending rearwardly of the shaft 66. The arm 81 is pivotally connected to a link 68 having a plurality of notches 89 therein adapted to engage the frame member 24. Adjustment of the link vertically of the frame rocks the arm 81 and sprocket 84 on the shaft 66 and any movement of sprocket 84 is transmitted by the chains 95 and 82 to each of the shafts I4, rocking same and the fingers thereon. Therefore movement of the link 86 adjusts the position of the fingers I5, and when the shaft 66 is rotated to rotate the spider and the reel the chain 85 will operate over the stationary spocket 84, thereby retaining the sprocket 83 and through the chain 82 all of the sprockets BI and shafts 14 in substantially the same position of the fingers 15, that is a substantially vertical position during the rotation of said reel.

A plurality of U-shaped rods 9I are mounted on the frame and preferably have lower portions 92 bent in substantially a semicircle with the center at the axis of the shaft 66, the radius being of sufficient size that the legs 93 and 94 in the arcuate portion 92 are spaced outwardly from the path of travel of the shafts I4. the legs 93 and 99 extending through the angles 23 and '29. Nuts 95 are threaded on the upper ends of said legs for securing same to the rake frame. These arcuate rods provide guards for the fingers to prevent solid objects on the ground from coming in contact with the rotating mechanism of the reel and to keep straw or hay from balling up therein. The rods also form guards to cooperate with the fingers whereby when the reel is rotated in an anticlockwise direction (Fig. 3) the movement of said fingers across the bottom of the rake will be forwardly to kick hay, straw and the like to the front of the guards. Subsequent engagement of the other fingers with the hay will tend to move same transversely of the path of travel of said apparatus and toward the tractor and path of travel of the pickup mechanism I0.

I The reel is preferably operatively connected to and driven by a traction Wheel suitabl mountedon the apparatus and in the illustrated structure such function is performed by the traction wheels 9 of the baler. A suitable drive for the reel is arranged by providing the outer end of the shaft 66 with a sprocket 96 operativel connected by a chain 91 with a driving sprocket 99, mounted on a shaft 99 carried. bv bearing brackets I00 and II secured to the frame I8,

whereby said shaft 99 is arranged longitudinally of said frame and spaced thereabove. Secured to the shaft 99 adjacent bracket IOI is a pulley I02 which is driven by any suitable means and preferably from the traction wheel 6 of the baler.

It is essential that the drive be such that rise and fall of the rake relativeto the baler in passing over uneven ground will not alter the positiveness of said drive. A sprocket I03 is preferably mounted on the wheel 6, said sprocket having a chain I04 operated thereover to drive a sprocket I05 mounted on a countershaft I06 supported in a bearing I01 which is secured to the members 51 and 6|, the shaft I96 extending outwardly beyond the member 6| and mounting a pulley I 09, said pulley having a belt I I0 operating thereover and drivingly engaging the pulley I02.

Due to difference in the angularity of the baler and the rake, it is desirable to have the shaft I06 parallel with the axle 59 of the baler wheels and provide idler pulleys for changing the direction of the operation of the belt to align same with the pulley I02. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 4 whereby idlers III and H2 are provided for the upper and lower runs of the belt over the pulley I02, said pulleys II I and II 2 being mounted on brackets H3 and H4 respectively. In order to maintain the belt IIO tight, an arm I I5 is pivotally mounted as at I I6 to the arms 51 quired for such storage.

In using a device constructed and assembled as described, the baler and rake are moved into the open and the rake arranged at the proper angular relation as illustrated in Fig. 1, and the tie bars 55v 5? and 6! connected to the rake and baler. The drawbar 2 is then connected to the draft gear of a tractor 4 and the structure is ready to move through the field of mown crops. As the. tractor draws the apparatus through the field, traction of the wheels 6 and 1 provides the power for the operation of the respective moving parts of the rake, the baler parts being driven by a prime mover or suitable. power takeoff on the tractor. Rotation of the wheel 6 and the sprocket I93 attached thereto drives the sprocket I05 through the chain I 04 to rotate the countershaft I06 and the pulley I99 driving the shaft 99 through the belt I I0 and pulley I02. Rotation of the shaft 99 operates the sprocket 96 to drive the sprocket 96 through the chain 91, rotating the shaft 96 and the reel 61. As the reel is rotated the fingers I5 carried by the shafts I4 are held in selected angularity due to a chain operatively connecting the sprocket 84 arranged coaxial with the shaft 66 and held stationary by connectionxof the arm 81 and link 88, said chain 85 operating over sprocket 83 on one of the shafts I I whereby movement of the reel around the axis thereof will maintain a point on the shaft M in the same relative position throughout the rotation 'of the reel. Therefore the fingers will remain in selected position as illustrated in. Fig. 4. All of the shafts 14 having sprockets thereon and the chain 82 operatively connected with said tame n30 to'provi'de clearance between 1=the :ends .of the fingers [and the ground; one inch "clearance being suitable, as. the fingerseare 'springs which will flex to pass'over any irregularity :withouhdamage to the apparatus. As =the apparatus "is. moved :for-

warclly and fthe reel rotated, .therfingers .pass in a 7 *fcrward direction-to movehay-crl. other crops forwardly andlaterallyrelati-ve to the path of travel of the devi'ceito progressively move-all of the rha'yfin the lpathao'f -the wake zinto-the path of the l pickuplmechanism I10. Forwardmovementofthe rapparatus also .operatesthebeltand. fingers on-the pickupv mechanism to ,-pick up -.hoth=the shay that =has'been 'moved into the path. of .said pickup and therihay that was normallyrin front-rot same, the hay being moved upwardly rby the :conveyor 4 2 into the balingchambertwhere: it. is packed, tied, and*discharged'from-thebaling-apparatus. "Opereation of the devieerover uneven-ground will. cause .pivoting of the tie :bars-.-c0nnecting-the:rake and -:baler -permitting relative movement. and allowing the apparatus to conform-to the terrain .to take and :pick -up substantially "all of the rmowe'd ,material.

A particular L form andarrangementoi the apaparatus is illustrated-and described,lhowevenrit. is robvious that modifications rmay be-ma'de therein without departing from the scope .of the invention.

WhatIclaim and desire tov secure by Letters Patent is:

=1. In a devicelfor rakingandpicking up hay or like material. in the.field,-.a.vehiclawheels on said vehicle for. supporting .rsame, means .for moving the ivehicledthroughethe field, means forxpickiflg up material from the ground. as the vehicle. moves 1'.

through the field a frame arranged forwardlyrand laterally and atan angle to the path of travel of the vehicle, caster wheels arranged around .the .frame having adjustable .connection there- \Withland each Idf-ksiid wheelslhavingya'differentr;

.spacingforwardly ofLthe pickup 'forthe vehicle to .provide adjustable three-pointsuspension for said frame, a reel rotatably mounted on said frame, aplurality. of resilient fingers carriedby the reel ..f or :thevehicle to provide adjustable three point suspension; for saidrframera' reel rotatably. mounted on saidirame, a pluralitycof resilient fingers I "carried bysaid reel for -movement zin a-.circular path and adapted to ."engage material'inrtheileld in the path of travel thereofdoramoving said imaterial laterally 'of- :said :path -of travel and into the 'pathaof travel -.of the-vehicle pickup, -'a plurality of rigid means pivotally connectfed to the "frame and the vehicle "at spaced *points for maintaining the angular relation therebetween, said zpivotal connections being on horizontal arms for independent --vertical movement'o'f the vehicle and framewhen passingover guneven ground, meansoperatively connecting a wheel for :thevehicle with the reel on .theframe-for rotating said reel, -means responsive to r rotation "of said *reel for maintaining the fingers in the 'fsamerrelative angularityto the ground, means 'ffOl' adjusting the angularity of the fingers,--and means 'onthe frame for maintaining therota- "ting parts thereon 'free' of -material being raked.

*3. In combination, a vehicle supported on' a pair-of wheelsfor'movement ina field and having 5apickup mechanism extending forwardly-for 'pickingupmaterial from the ground as the-ve- "hi'cle movesthrough a field,-and a'draw'barexitending 'forwardly alongside the pickup mechanism, a tractor hitched Etc the vehicle draw bar "for moving :the vehicle through a field and "sup- :porting theforward' end of said'draw bar,--a-side delivery rake havingaframe carrying arotatable :reel;tsaid rake'beingforwardly and laterally at an angle-tothe path of travel ofthevehicle-iorraking material 'onthe groundtinto-a windrow inzfront'iof thep'ickup mechanism; caster wheels 'adjustably supporting the'raka'said wheels' being arranged at :different spacing forwardly of the "pickup mech- :anism' :to provide a three p'oint suspension 1 of the rake, one of 'said'wheels being'to the rear-of the rake and thepthersforwardlyof andsubstantially in alignment with the ends "of the rake. rigid meansextendingf from'the raketo the "draw "bargmeans plvotally connecting the ends of sa'rd ".rigid means tothe rake and draw barior pivotal :movement about horizontal'axea rigid meansrhavformovementrin'a circular path andadapted to engage material in the fieldi in the path of travel thereofjor moving'said material laterally of said path of travel and into the pathdf travel ofthe vehicle pickup, a plurality of rigid 'mean's pivoting spaced pivotalconnect-ions" with the rake-and pivotal "connection with the vehicle, saidipi-votal connectionsbeing onzhorizontal-axes whereby the rake and vehicle are supported s'independently from the ground :and the angular relationship of saidrake and-vehicle is maintained, and drivfi'llfl'g' means connecting a wheel of the vehicle and thereel of the rake :for rotatingsaid reelthereally connected at spaced'points on'the frame an'drlb x-fromasthevehicle-is=moved=througha field.

vehicle for maintaining the angular relation ,therebetween, means operatively 'conn'edting '"a wheel of the vehicle'with the reel'on the frame for moving said fingers, andmeans onthe'frame 'free of material being raked.

'2. In a device for raking-andpickinguphay or like material inthelield, a vehicla wheels on saidvehicle for supporting isamai' means for'movfor maintaining "the rotating parts thereon 130 *ing the vehicle through'thefield; means "for'pick- ALFRED DEAN GUY.

REFERENCES CITED The following Teferencesare'ofrecord in the Russell Aug. 7, 1945 

